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5 Introduction Hello, and thank you for taking time to read our sponsorship brochure. We are a small non-profit group called Chatham County Skate Park Supporters. Our goal is to build a 13,000 square foot public concrete skatepark at Lake Mayer Community Park in Savannah, GA. We have been actively working on this project since 2009 and have raised over $160,000 through grass roots fundraising. We have completed our permitting through Chatham County and the City of Savannah, but we are in need of more funding for this project. Future home of Savannah Skatepark
7 What is a Skatepark? A skatepark is just like any other recreational facility such as a basketball court or baseball field. Skateparks are facilities designated for skateboarding, BMXing and rollerblading. The best skateparks are designed by skateboarders and built by skateboarders. Skateparks provide a safe place for skateboarders to hone their skills and learn valuable life lessons. If you fall down, pick yourself up. It has been estimated that 1 out of every 7 kids and young adults in the USA ride skateboards (Whitley, 2009). Sadly, the need for public skateparks is commonly ignored by municipal government organizations in the planning of recreational components for cities and counties. Fortunately, local advocacy groups such as Chatham County Skate Park Supporters are around to fulfill the growing demand for free public skateparks. Bluffton, SC Photo: Andrew Brodhead
Our accomplishments to date Since 2009, we have been working closely with the public works and parks & recreation departments of Chatham County, GA. The land for the skatepark at lake Mayer Community Park has been secured through a ground lease between Chatham County, GA and Chatham County Skate Park Supporters. Since day one we have been actively fundraising and have raised over $160,000 to date. In 2009, we began a t-shirt campaign with Marc Jacobs International and have received over $115,00 from the sales of their Savannah Skatepark t-shirts. We have hosted skateboard art shows, benefit breakfasts, skateboard contests, and kids skate/art camps that have helped us raise over $25,000 locally. In 2012, we were awarded $25,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation. This is the largest grant they give, and it is one of the most highly regarded achievements in skatepark advocacy. It also means that Tony Hawk may personally visit our park! 9
Who is building the Skatepark? Team Pain Skateparks has been selected to design and build the skatepark at Lake Mayer Community Park. Based out of Orlando, FL, Team Pain Skateparks has been building skate-able structures for over 30 years including the ramps for the Savannah Slamma skateboard contests held at our very own Civic Center during the late 1980s. This skatepark company is made up of skateboarders who take extreme pride in their craft. They have built parks all over the country and have even constructed parks internationally. The Savannah Skatepark will be the first project that Team Pain has completed in their neighboring state of Georgia and they intend to leave their mark for the world to see with its design and construction. We want the best, so we chose the best. You can see more of Team Pain s amazing craftsmanship at teampain.com. Team Pain Skate parks 11
It s for the kids! It really is! It has been estimated that 16% of the USA population from ages 5-24 years old are skateboarders (Whitley, 2009). In Chatham County, GA, it is estimated that 1 in 3 children are obese (AASU Public Service Center, 2010) and activities such as skateboarding may help combat this problem. With no public skatepark located in Chatham County, this park will be a safe place for skateboarders, BMXers, and rollerbladers of all ages. We intend to provide the community of Savannah and Chatham County a place to skate for many generations to come with the construction of this skatepark. Here is your chance to help! SkateArt Camp Photo: Andrew Brodhead 13
Sponsorship opportunities Legend - $50,000 + You are a legend in skateboarding and skatepark advocacy and have become a household name! Pro - $25,000 You ve made it in the ranks of professional skateboarding! The signature boards, shoes, clothing, and fame are now all yours! Am - $10,000 You re getting a ton of coverage and hype, and you re skateboarding everyday to make it into the ranks of the professionals! Flow - $5,000 The bigger companies are taking notice of you and are sending some free product your way in hopes of helping you jump to the next level! Shop - $1,000 Many professional skateboarding careers start with a local skateshop sponsorship. Become a shop sponsor to help make the next pro! Crew- $500 You and your friends have started your own crew! You ve got a logo that you ve been stenciling on your boards and t-shirts and you ve been shredding all of the local parks! Beginner- $100 We all remember the first time we stepped on a skateboard and how important it was to us. So become a sponsor to get us moving! The contributors for each sponsorship level will be permanently recognized at the skatepark for all to see. We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible. Hilton Head Skatepark, Hilton head island Photo: Ben Maher 15
Contact Please feel free to contact us with any questions on how you can help. Chatham County Skate Park Supporters 1501 Chatham Avenue tybee Island, GA savannahskatepark@gmail.com 912.308.1733 Benjamin Maher, CEO Skateboarder 17+ years B.S. Marine Sciences M.S. Marine Science Kathryn Williams, CFO retired Educator B.S. Early Childhood Education M.S. Education Adam Williams, Secretary Skateboarder 15+ years B.F.A. Photography M.F.A. Visual Arts For Additional Information Please Visit Skaters For Public Skateparks (skatepark.org) The Tony Hawk Foundation (tonyhawkfoundation.org) Literature Cited Whitley P. 2009. Public skatepark development guide: handbook for skatepark advancement.2nd Edition. Skaters For Public Skateparks. 128 p. Armstrong Atlantic State University Public Service Center, 2010. Savannah-Chatham Community Indicators Database. Health and Wellness Community Indicator 3: High School Students with Unhealthy Weight. Thank you for taking time to read our pamphlet, and we hope you can help!